TULSA, Okla. (Oct. 24, 2018) - The Red River NPL held their second ever Player Development Program (PDP), which hosted 56 players born in 2005-06, October 21 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 37 boys and 19 girls gathered at Titan Sports & Performance Center to showcase their abilities in a balance of technical drills and 11v11 situations.

"The PDP and id2 format that US Club Soccer has implemented is geared towards identifying and training players,” stated Dave Simeone, the Red River NPL Technical Director. “It has proven itself to be effective because it is driven by competent, responsible, and technical people within the NPL and at the national level. We are not relying on a business model to work in the interests of player development."

"I'm looking forward to implementing our regional training programs throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and North Texas in the interest of creating a pathway forward for players that aspire to do so," added Simeone. “We are very excited about the possibilities of identifying aspiring elite performers throughout the Red River NPL.”

PDPs are identification and development programs conducted within the id2 Program umbrella. Consistent with US Club Soccer's philosophy that identification and development should be free to players, there is no cost to players. PDPs are approved as an Olympic Development Program by the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Soccer Federation.

PDP invitations are based upon scouting within the NPL, scouting of NPL clubs and other nearby clubs, as well as recommendations from Directors of Coaching. Based upon this scouting and recommendation process, top players are invited to attend PDP events. id2Program scouts are on-site at all PDP events to scout players for potential inclusion in id2Program Training Camps. U.S. Soccer scouts will also attend many PDP events to scout players for consideration in U.S. Soccer Youth National Team camps.

ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER:

A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible environment for players of all ages.

Anchored by Players First and its five pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety, US Club Soccer offers registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms, player identification and a variety of other programming, resources and services.

US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike and supported by LaLiga through a technical partnership.